Valve mechanism for discharging air and water of condensation from steam-heating systems.



- 3:. E. VAN' 'KUKBN. VALVE MECHANISM FOR DISOHABGING AND WATER 0P GONDENSATION PROM STEAM HEKTING SY8TEMS. union-Ion 31mm on. 12, 1908.

Patented a1. 8, 1910.

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BYRON E. VAJJ' AUKEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vnLv E MECHANISM For. iorscnenferns Ara AND warns or CQNDENSATIOKlI anon srnnn nnarrnesrs'rnivis.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lt 'fatented Mar. d, ilnlltl.

Application filed Octoherlz, 1908. Serial No. 457,251.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bvno v E. VAN Arman, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve I Mechanism for Discharging'Air and Water fioat controlled valve mechanisms for governing the discharge of air and water of condens'ation from steam heating systems or other inclosures wherein steam condenses. llhe invention refers to improvements in valves of this character and to means for avoiding clogging of the air passage in the valve mechanism through which air is drawn from the steam heating system or other inclosure.

My improvements are herein shown as applied to the valve mechanisms of the general character illustrated in my prior application for U. S. Patent No. 305,657, liled' March 12th, 1906, but may be. applied to other constructions of the same general type; In valve mechanisms of this general charactor some trouble and annoyance has been inafter sot. torth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings:Figure 1 isa vertical axial section of a valve mechanism embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse-sections taken on lines 22 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1.

'lhecasing 15 of the valve'mechanism is vertically. elongated and incloses a float chamber 16. The said float chamber is adapted for communication through a con- .dpit-17 with the radiator ofa steam heating. system, or other inclosure m which steam condenses. It is provided witha discharge or outlet branch. 18 through which air and Water of condensation are discharged. The said branch 18 is adapted for connection with a pipe in which is maintaineda pressure less than the normal operating pressure within the radiator or other inclosure in which the steam condenses. The-casing is formed at its lower side, atthe inner end of 5 the conduit 17, to provide a well or pocket 20 into which dips a depending lip or inverted weirfll. The said well or pocket is adapted to befilled by water of condensation which accumulates therein from the radiators, whereby is formed a seal between thcconduit 17 and the float chamber. A hollow vertical tube 24; which extendsthrough and upwardly from and has screwtlireaded engagement with the horizontal wall 25 of the casing between the float chainher and discharge passage .18 affords com- .inunication between said float chamber and passage, and a valve carried by the lower end of the float controls the flow of Water through the passage 2? in said tube 24. .The said tube 24: is of relatively small diameter and the valve 26 is tormedon its lower end to provide a downwardl flaring opening 28 at the smaller, upper cm of which is formed a valve seat that engages the upper end of the tube 24 to cut oil the passage of water from the float chamber to the dis charge branch 18. The downwardly flaring shape of the opening in the valve has the effect to automatically center the valve over the valve tube 24- when the float dro s to its lowermost or closing position 0 the valve and thereby insure the closing of the valve.

The topwall of the valve casing 15 comprises,;as herein Shown, a removablecaji 30 which has an annular depending flange 31 that enters the upper end of the casing and has screw-threaded engagement-therewith. The removable cap 30 permits ready access to'the float and the interior of the float chamber.

loo

The floatis hollow anda passagewayfor airis provided through the liollow float between the discharge branch 18 0f the'valve and the interior of the float chamber so as to place the interior of the float chamber in constant communication with the low pressure pipe connected with the discharge branch 18 and, thereby".rnaintain-thcnecessary low pressure at the lioatchaniher to afi'o'rd difierential' pressure on opposite sides ofthe seal at the inner end of the conduit 17 to insure the discharge of air and water of condensation from, the heating unit or the like to'the said float chamber. The said air passage is formed in the present instance by providing the valve 26 with a passage 33 which coincides with the passage 27 of the tube 24, and by providing at theupper end of the hollow float a short tube 34c'which is in open communication with the upper end of the float chamber.

The tube 34, isattached to the float by havmg screw-threaded engagement with a ring or bushing 35 which is fitted in the upper end wall of the float. The said tube constitutes also a guide stem which has guiding engagement with a vertical opening formed in a vertical reduced extension 36 of the cap 30.

In order to prevent the passages. in the valve 26 and tube 34: from being clogged by the lodgment of foreign particles therein 1 provide a cleaning device which is made as follows: 37 designates a rod which extends downwardly from the cap 30 of the casing,

and wall of the tube a restricted annular passage through which air passes from the oat chamber to the hollow float. At its lower end the cleaning rod is made relatively smaller than the passage 33 of the valve therebyproviding around the cleaning rod an annular passage through which air-passes from the float to the passage 27 of the tube 241 The relative areas of the passages in the tube 34 and valve 26 are substantially the same as that shown in my prior construction, the iupper 'assage being considerably smaller than the ower assage for the purposeset forth in my a oresaid application.

The operation of the valve mechanism, so far as concerned its function to control the discharge of water of condensation and air from the steam heating unit or other inclosure in which steam condenses is the same as set forth in my aforesaid application. The cleaning rod 37, which is stationary with respect to the casing, serves to clean and keep open the passages at the 11 per and lower ends of the float by reason 0? the movement of the float relatively thereto, such relative movement of the parts serving to dislodge any foreign-particles that may tend to find lodgment in said passages. In this manner a very simpl and economical arrangement and constriibtion maintains the valve free from obstruction and the cleaning device is always in position to effectively perform its cleaning function. So far as this feature of my invention is concerned it will be understood that the same results may be secured by constructions differing somewhat from that herein shown, and that the'cleaning device may be applied to valves differing somewhat in construction from the valve mechanism illustrated.

The arrangement of the downwardly flaring recess in the valve 26 which passes over the tube 24 is advantageous when used -with the cleaning device herein shown, as

compared to a construction wherein the flaring recess is formed upwardly on the upper part of the tube 2-1, inasmuch as it enables both parts of the valve to be made relatively smaller, while at the same time providing ample room to receive the lower end of the cleaning rod 37. l\Iorc-ovcr, the arrangement of the downwardly opening flaring recess avoids tendency of small p'urticlcs to accunuilate on the wall of said recess and to interfere with the action of the valve, such as may tend to occur if the recess opens upwardly. Furthermore, itsometimes occurs in the use of constructions -where the movable valve is a plain tube,

careless or inexperienced users of the device do not readily distinguish belween the ends of the float in replacing after it has been removed for the purpose of cleaning the same or the float chamber, with the result that it often occurs that the float is placed in the casing in an inverted position. \Vith the present-construction the difference between the two ends of the float is readily noticeable so that. such accidental reversal of the float does not occur.

A lay-pass is provided between the well or pocket'QO in the conduit 17 and the branch 18 consisting, as herein shown, of an opening 45 in the wall between said parts which is closed a valve 46 at the end-of a stem that has screnwhreadcd engagement with vthe casing.

It will be noted that the opening in the I short tube 34 surrounding the enlarged upper end of the cleanin rod 37 is a restricted opening and as the cat moves upwardly, the enlarged end of the rod 37' pro ects further into this short tube 34, thereby increasing the resistance of the flow of air or va or from the upper part of the float chum )er into the float. At the same time it will be noted that because of its size the opening in the lower part oi the float does not become restricted or offer a materially great er resistance to the flow of water from the float chamber into the float when the float is raised andhence when the float is raised i into the outlet 18.

water in the float chamber flows into the float and part flows through the passage "27 The water which enters the lloat causes said float to become heavier and thus makes it tall more quickly than it. otherwise would. hen the that has fallen I the passage 2? is no longer 1n communicin l 0 1 tron with the float chamber. but is 111 cominunication'with the float so that water .which had flowed from the float chamber into the float when said. tloat was *aised, now passes from the tloat through the passage 27 into the outlet opening 18. This action brings about a quicker falling of the float and. also a more continuous discharge of water from. the valve mechanism. l 'later is being discharged from the float chamber whenever the tloat is 'aised and itis also being discharged apart of the-time at least from the float through the passage 27 when the float is down. 'llhis more continuous discharge of water from the valve mechanism through the passage 2? lQDClSlOlIOCP this passage 2? closed and hence there is less leakage oi steam from ghe tioat. chamber through the float and its passageways.

I claimas my invention 1; A. valve mechanism for the purpose dcscribed, comprising a float chamber provided with liquid inlet and discharge passages, the latter operating under a pressure less than that of the former, a hollow float in said chamber; a valve attached tosaid float for controlling the liquid discharge passage,

said .tloat being provided at' its upper end i 'wlth a restricted opening through which air is dischargedfrom the float chamber to the interior of the hollow lioat and being provided at. its lower end with an opening through which air is discharged trom the hollow float into the liquid discharge opening, the lower opening of the float being scaled by the water in the float chamber when the float is raised, and means whereby the resistance to the discharge of air or vapor'froin the float chamber to the interior of the hollow float is increased when said float is raised.

3. 'Valve mechanism for discharging air and water of condensation from steam heat ing systems by dilferential pressure, comprising a float chamber. a conduit adapted to providecommunication between a radiator and said float chamber, a liquid seal arranged tobe sealed by the accumulation of water of condensation in. said conduit thereby increasing the differential pressure on opposite sides of said liquid seal whereby a portion of the accumulated water of connames densation is forced into said float chamber, a liquld discharge pas-negro with the float chamber. a hollow float for communicating governing said discharge passage, said float.

being provided with an air passage extending through the heat and discharging into said liquid discharge passage, the upper parto't' said air passage being a restricted openii'lg and the lower pain of said air nassage being adapted to be sealed by water in thelloat chamber when the float is raised, and means whereby the resistance to the dis charge of air or vapor from the float chamlloat chamber, a liquid discharge passagecoinmuni'atinp; l-Ydlllfitlltl. 'l'loat chamber, a, hollow float in said tloat chamber provided with. a valvel'or controlling said 1scharge passage, said iloat being provided also with an upper restricted air and vapor opening andwith a larger lower opening whereby water will more freely pass through the lower opening t'roin the float chamber into the Heat when the tloat is raised than the air or =i-apor will pass from the float chamber into the float through the said upper restricted opening., and means whereby the re sistancc to the discharge of air or vapor to the interior of the hollow float is increased when said lloat is raised.

l. Valve mechanism for discharging air and waterol conden. tion from steam heat: ing systems by ditlerential pressure, comprising a float chamber, a liquid discharge passage conniuiuicating therewith, a conduitadapted to provide communication between a radiator and said tloat chamber, a liquid seal arranged to be sealed by t=l1eaccumulation of water 01" condensation in said conduit thereby increasing the dilierential pressure on opposite sides of said liquid seal.

whereby a portion oi. the accumulated water of condensation is forced into said float chamber. a hollow It at tor governing said liquid discharge nissage. said float being provided at its upper endwith a restricted opening through which air and vapor is discharged from the float chamber to the interior of the hollow tloat and being provided at its lower end with an openingthrough which air is discharged from the hollow float into the liquid discharge pas sage, said lower opening being sealed by the waterin the float chamber when the float 1s v w" i said float is raised.

5. Valve mechanism for discharging all" raised, and a guide rod extending downwardly through the said restricted opening and adapted to increase the resistance to the discharge of air or vapor from the float chamber to the interior of the float when and water of condensation from steam heating systems by differential pressure, comprising a float chamber, aliquid discharge passage communicating therewith, a conduit adapted toprovide communication between a radi ator and said float chamber, a liquid seal arranged to be sealed by the accumulation of waterof condensation in said conduit thereby increasing the diiferential pressure on opposite sidesofsaid liquid seal whereby.

a portion of the accumulated water of condensation is forced into said float chamber, a hollow float for governingsaid liquid discharge passage, said float being provided at its upper end with a restricted openin through which air and vapor is discharged from the float chamber to the interior of the float and being provided at its lower end with an opening through-which air is discharged from the float into the liquid discharge passage, the lower opening of the float, being sealed by the water in the float chamber when the float is-raised, and a guide rod extending downwardlythrough-said restricted opening and into the lower opening of said float andadapted to increase the rethrough' said restricted opening when the float is raised' vsistance to the discharge of air'or vapor October A. D. 1908.

6. Valve mechanism for dischargin air and water of condensation from steam ing systems by differential pressure, comprising a float chamber, a liquid discharge passage communicating therewith, a float for governing said discharge passage, a conduit lower part of said air passage being adapted to be sealed by water in the float chamber when the float is raised, and a guide rod extending through the restricted part of said air passage and adapted to increase the resistance to the discharge of air or vapor from said float chamber when the float is raised. t I Y In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this "10th day of BYRON E. VAN AUKEN.

Witnesssi GEORG -R WILKINS, G. J.

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